Congressman, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, Nigerian politician and founder of the One United Africa Foundation, has reignited calls for a renewed commitment to African unity, warning that the continent risks “snoring away its future” if leaders fail to act decisively against rising xenophobia, Afro-phobia, and internal divisions.
In a statement he made available to Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) on Wednesday, Daramola recounted his 2020 visit to Zambia, where he met with the late former President Kenneth Kaunda, one of Africa’s last surviving independence-era leaders. Kaunda, he said, expressed deep concern that the ideals of unity championed by his generation — alongside figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, and Nnamdi Azikiwe — were slipping away under the stewardship of today’s leaders.
“The unity of Africa is a precious earthenware pot that must be protected,” Daramola emphasized, noting that Kaunda accepted to serve as grand patron of the One United Africa Foundation until his passing.
He criticized the African Union and NEPAD for what he described as “supine” and “voiceless” responses to recurring outbreaks of violence, arguing that shallow condemnations without concrete action have allowed divisions to fester.
According to Daramola, the continent’s youth are particularly vulnerable to being “recruited by hate-driven motives,” as many grow up disconnected from Africa’s historical identity. He warned that economic dependence on foreign powers, particularly China and India, has further complicated the continent’s unity, with Africans often treated more harshly under immigration rules than non-African residents.
Despite these challenges, Daramola expressed optimism, citing recent remarks by Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at an ECOWAS summit and underscored the importance of reviving Africa’s long-sought unity.
“It is our unity first,” Daramola declared. “If you do not sacrifice for what you believe in, what you believe in will soon become a sacrifice.”
As an “African Unity Irredentist and Gospeller,” Daramola vowed to continue advancing the pan-African conversation across the continent, focusing on mobilizing young Africans to embrace unity as a non-negotiable foundation for sustainable greatness.
